A bill which seeks to create the Federal Capital Territory Satellite Towns Development Commission has passed second reading at the floor of the Senate

The piece of legislatio. is Sponsored by Senator Aliyu Wadada representing Nasarawa West on the platform of the Social Democratic Party.
In his lead debate, the senator told his colleagues that it was an initiative aimed at addressing the growth and infrastructure needs of the FCT Satellite Towns
He said since the FCT is bounded by Nasarawa, Niger, Kaduna and Kogi as contiguous states, it was necessary to address the challenges being faced by the residents there.
Wadada noted that since its creation the FCT has continued to see tremendous growth as Nigeria’s Federal capital.
The rapid development of the nation’s capital he added, came with a set of challenges, particularly to the satellite towns which are all forced to accommodate the Work force of the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the proposed commission would cater for satellite towns that are to be determined by a 60 kilometers distance in to all the contiguous states of the FCT
Wadada said, “The FCT Satellite Towns Development Commission shall have the mandate to ameliorate the infrastructure deficits, manage urban sprawl, and promote sustainable development within the satellite towns.
He argued that the FCT Satellite Towns Development Commission is set out for the rapid urbanization of the FCT which resulted in an acute shortage of affordable housing has continued to cause a mass movement of people to the Satellite towns.

The development he said, is creating informal settlements and slums.

He said, “This has led to overcrowding, lack of basic amenities, and poor living conditions, which further exacerbate poverty within some of the towns in the
contiguous states.
“The migration of different ethnic groups into the Satellite towns has continually led to cultural clashes of different groups with divergent values and lifestyles and that sometimes lead to tensions, especially when chasing scarce resources or competing for land and employment.
“The widening economic gap between Abuja and its surrounding towns has led to social inequalities as those who have migrated into the satellite towns often face poor living conditions in informal settlements.
“This has resulted in high levels of crime, social unrest, and inequality , Cultural Homogenization.
“As people from different parts of Nigeria fldck to the Satellite Towns, the rich cultural diversity of the surrounding towns often gives way to a more homogenized nationa culture, causing the marginalization of local cultures.
“This bill if passed will ameliorate the infrastructure deficits, manage urban sprawl, promote sustainable development within the FCT satellite towns.
The Commission’s role will include the development of essential infrastructure, such as roads, drainage systems, health care services, education, social services and public utilities such as waste management.
“The sstablishment of an FCT Satellite Towns Commission will be a conscious effort towards spreading development to all nooks and crannies of our nation.”
Senators in their various contributions, supported the bill and contended that it would spread development to all the communities that borders the FCT.

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday witnessed an intense confrontation during plenary as tempers flared over the sudden introduction of the Tax Reform Bill, a move that sparked a shouting match among lawmakers.
Trouble started when the Senate leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, moved a motion for the suspension of Senate rules to allow Oyedele and his team members access into the chamber.

But a former deputy Senate leader, Abdul Ningi, was swift in raising objections.

Citing order 12 of the Senate Standing rules, Ningi said there was no provision that allows non-senators to enter the chamber while the session is on.

Deputy president of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary session, over ruled Ningi stating that the experts were invited to allow for open discussion on the matter.

As soon as Ningi took his seat, another loud voice shouting ‘point of order’ was heard.

It was the voice of a former Senate majority leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume.

He said it was an aberration to have strangers in the chamber without a provision in the order paper for that purpose.

The situation degenerated to exchange of hot words between the two senators and Jibrin to the extent that business of the Senate was halted and delayed for some time.

The use of the word rhetoric by Jibrin worsen matters as Ndume raised another point of order drawing attention to use of unparliamentary words.

He was ruled out of order by Jibrin who said the word was used in general sense.

The session, escalated after Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele invoked Order 12(1) to suspend regular Senate rules and permit tax experts, including the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), to address the chamber.
However, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume vehemently opposed the motion, arguing that the bill was not listed on the Order Paper and that proper legislative procedure was being sidestepped.

“This is a very important matter. We must follow the rules,” Ndume asserted, emphasizing that the Tax Reform Bill’s sensitive nature required strict adherence to established protocols.
He called for the inclusion of the bill on a supplementary Order Paper to ensure transparency.

Despite Ndume’s objections, Barau defended the Senate’s actions, dismissing concerns as unnecessary rhetoric.
The confrontation led to a rowdy chamber, with voices raised in protest. Ultimately, Ndume was ruled out of order, and the tax experts were allowed to speak on the bill.

The heated exchange underscored the growing tension surrounding the Tax Reform Bill, which has drawn widespread public interest and concern over its potential impact on Nigeria’s economy.

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday hosted a historic visit by His Excellency Zhang Qingwei, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress of China. The visit, the first of its kind by a Chinese parliamentary leader, was warmly received by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who called for deeper bilateral relations between the two nations.
Akpabio described the occasion as a milestone in Nigeria-China relations, highlighting decades of collaboration since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1971.
He noted the significance of the visit, which coincided with Nigeria’s recent celebration of the 25th anniversary of its space program, as a symbol of shared aspirations for progress.

“Your Excellency, this visit is historic and reaffirms the enduring friendship and mutual respect between our two nations. Together, we can deepen this partnership for the benefit of our people,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President commended China for its role in Africa’s economic transformation, particularly in infrastructure and trade. He cited China’s position as Africa’s largest bilateral trading partner, with trade volumes reaching $292 billion in 2023.
Akpabio acknowledged China’s support for Nigeria, including over $3.1 billion in infrastructure loans disbursed between 2013 and 2022, which revitalized critical sectors such as railways, ports, and airports.

While expressing gratitude, Akpabio urged China to increase aid and investment in Nigeria, especially in light of economic challenges.
“We call on China to enhance its support for Nigeria through increased aid flows and expanded investments that will further strengthen our economies,” he said.

Akpabio emphasized the importance of legislative collaboration and proposed the establishment of a Nigeria-China Parliamentary Friendship Group to foster dialogue and exchange ideas.

“Nigeria and China can learn from each other’s legislative systems to improve governance and deepen democratic relations. Stronger inter-parliamentary ties will enhance mutual understanding and cooperation,” he stated.

Akpabio called for joint ventures that would leverage Nigeria’s vast resources and dynamic population to foster innovation and development. He stressed that the partnership should extend beyond trade to cultural and social bonds that uplift citizens in both countries.

“As we forge ahead, let us work on projects that transform lives and modernize our nations. Together, we can create a legacy of cooperation that echoes through generations,” Akpabio remarked.

The Senate President concluded by reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening ties with China. He cited an African proverb, “If you want to go far, go together,” as a reflection of the shared journey toward mutual progress.

The visit by Zhang Qingwei is expected to open new avenues for collaboration in trade, infrastructure, and legislative governance, reinforcing the long-standing friendship between Nigeria and China.